Game-counter



(No Model.)

L. A. LEVY.

. GAME COUNTER. No. 585,113. Patented June 22,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LOUIS A. LEVY, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,113, dated June 22, 1897.

Application filed October 8, 1896. Serial No. 607,774. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Savannah, in the county of Chatham and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Game -Table, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to a game-table particularly designed for use in playingpenuchle, casino, and similar games of cards which require frequent counting or registering of points made; and the object in View is to provide means in connection with the table for facilitating the counting and registering of points as they are made and without necessitating any loss of time in playing the game.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a table constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a detail transverse section of the main or primary drum and the contiguous parts of the table.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a table-top which is provided at points contiguous to its center with openin gs, in which are fitted transparent mediums 2 for exposing a subjacent registering medium consisting, in the construction illustrated, of a continuous ribbon 3. This registering medium or counting-ribbon is car ried by main and auxiliary drums at and 5 or their equivalents, whereby any desired numher on the face of the ribbon may be exposed through the transparent medium, which is preferably located above the main drum 4.

In the construction shown in the drawings the main drum is mounted upon a spindle U, which is terminally fitted to slide in vertical guides consisting of slots 7 in hangers or brackets 8, depending from the table-top upon opposite sides of the opening through which the ribbon is to be exposed,'and located under each extremity of the spindle is a pressure-spring 9, which forces the drum toward the plane of the table and hence holds the upper side of the ribbon which is reeled upon said drum in contact with the under surface of the transparent medium 2. The drum 5, to which the other end of the ribbon is attached, is mounted in suitable brackets 10, depending from the table-top, and is connected by gearing with a windingshaft 11, mounted in the frame of the table and provided at one end with an exposed operatingcrank 12, which is within reach of a player seated at the table. In the construction illustrated the shaft 11 is provided with a bevelgear 13, meshing with a similar gear 1i on the drum 5, and by turning the shaft in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3 the ribbon will be wound upon the drum 5 and hence from the drum 4.

Attached at one end to the drum 4: and at the other end to the spindle 6 is a feeding spring 15, arranged in the casing 16 and designed to turn the drum in the direction necessary to reel the ribbon thereon. In order to control the feeding movement of the ribbon under the tension of the actuating-spring 15, I employ a key or button 17, which is countersunk in the surface of the table contiguous to one corner thereof or at a point within convenient reach of a player, and a trip-lever 18, connected with the stem 19 of said key or button and arranged at its extremity in engagement with a spur-wheel 20, fixed to the spindle of the drum 5. The trip-lever is held normally in engagement with said sp u r-wheel by means of a return-spring 21, arranged in operative relation with the key or button, but it is obvious that by depressing said key or button sufficiently to remove the extremity of the trip-lever from engagement with the spur-wheel the drums will be allowed to rotate under the tension of the actuatingspring 15.

The frictional contact of the ribbon with the under surface of the table or the surface of the transparent medium which is set into the table-top serves to prevent the ribbon from feeding more rapidly than is desirable.

It will be understood that the mechanism above described is duplicated at the opposite side of the table, whereby each player is provided with means for registering the amount fat of his game, both of the inspeetion-openings being arranged contiguous to the center of the table-top,whereby they are exposed to the view of both players.

I11 operation the shafts 11 are rotated to reel the ribbon upon the drums 5, and as the game proceeds and points are made respectively by the players the one making a point depresses the contiguous key or button and thereby releases the ribbon for operation by the actuating-spring 15. This spring winds the ribbon upon the drum 4, and the operation will continue as long as the key or button is held depressed. hen the number representing the score to be registered is exposed to view through the opening in the table-top, the key or button should be released, whereupon the trip-lever engages the spur-wheel and locks the parts against further movement.

It will be understood that the marking upon the ribbons may be changed to suit the game for which the table is designed, and the operation of the device may be made still more universal by arranging markings suitable for different games at diiferent points upon the ribbon. For instance, numerals ranging from 1 to 21 may be arranged at one end of the ribbon for use in the game of casino, and following this marking a series of numerals progressing by tens and ranging from 1.0 to 1000 may be placed upon the ribbon for use in the game of penuchle.

Itwill be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A game-table having inspection-openings, indicating mediums adapted to be exposed through such inspeetionopenings, and means for feeding the mediums in opposite directions, the same including pairs of drums to which the extremities of the mediums are attached, feeding or actuating springs con nected to one of each pair of the drums, means for winding the other of each pair of drums in opposition to the tension of the feeding or actuating spring, and trip mechanisms for normally locking the drums against movement by the feeding-spring and each including a button adapted to be actuated to release the drum and allow adjustment of the medium, substantially as specified.

2. A game-table having inspection-openings, continuous indicating mediums, for exposure, respectively, through said openings, means for feeding said mediums in opposite directions, the same including drums to which the extremities of the mediums are attached, one of said drums being arranged under each inspection-opening, and means for yieldingly holding said last-named drums elevated to maintain the upper sides of the mediums contiguous to the plane of the upper surface of the table, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS A. LEVY.

Vitn esses:

hlARION ONEAL, D. S. Guuummmr. 

